Cold weather vs electric cart

Sideways

How does cold, maybe bitter cold affect electric carts?
The reason I ask is a friend is planning on using 2 electric carts during a Christmas parade. The parade route is about 2 miles long. Will they make it without any issues or damaging the batteries?
Thanks

BGW

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cgtech

Cold temps decrease available power (and therefore range), but won't do any damage unless the batteries are left in a discharged state and allowed to freeze. A fully charged battery must be way below zero degrees to freeze, a fully discharged battery will freeze much closer to 32 degrees. If the batteries have good range in warmer weather, they should do the job no problem, just be sure to fully charge them before storing them. If the batteries can be kept in a warmer building just prior to the parade, it would be beneficial to range. A pack of batteries has a large "thermal mass", and will take a while to cool down. The green columns are the capacity (or range). Lead batteries are generally rated for 100% capacity at 80 degrees F.

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Sideways

Thanks CG, I appreciate the response and that's what makes this site so great!

DaveTM

CG has the charts. I can tell you from real experience (not that CG doesn't have the same experience) that my 48-V TXT under a full charge (8 6-V batteries) will get me about 12 miles of "gently" rolling hills in 75 degree weather. However, I use my cart for hunting and when I'm out on a 20 to 22 degree day, the milage will drop to 8 miles or less. So, being conservative, I would say expect 50% travel distance on a sub-freezing day vs. a nice day.

FWIW

cgtech

Yep, it never gets, and stays cold here. Even when it freezes, its above freezing by 9 or 10 am. And when I was running electric, my morning commute was only maybe 2 miles.

dundeebarnbuggy

One trick I stumbled on was if you pull the charger near the end of the bulk charge the batts are warmer and quite energetic compared to the next morning when on float charge all night. Using the cart at while the pack is warm will keep them warm/warmer than ambient temperature. One other question, how cold is frigid cold "where you at"?

Sideways

Were on the Eastern Shore of Va. I went out to watch the launch at Wallops this morning and it was 31 with a slight wind.
The parade is the evening of Dec 2 so were expecting temps to be in the upper 20's to low 30's

dundeebarnbuggy

I am sure you meant to type chilly not frigid. Frigid is reserved for below -20f. Don't worry, your friend's batts will do just fine.

Sideways

What you talkin bout Willis, I diint type frigid...

dundeebarnbuggy

Oops, my bad. Bitter cold starts at about -15 f though,,,